UCL DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropology
UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENT HANDBOOK
2015-16
Disclaimer
The information contained in this handbook is believed to be correct at the time of
going to press but no guarantee can be given that it will not be amended before the
commencement of, or during the course of, the degree programmes to which it refers.1
Students in any doubt about the requirements for their degree programme should
consult their Personal or Departmental Tutor.
This handbook should be read in conjunction with the UCL Guidelines available on
the web at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/guidelines.
Any suggestions for improvements to future editions of the handbook should be
passed to the Publications Coordinator via the Departmental Office.
1
This handbook was last updated on 02 March 2016
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CONTENTS PAGE
CALENDAR
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SECTION ONE: ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
Members of staff with additional departmental roles
Administrative staff
Locations
Academic and personal problems: whom to contact
Interruption of studies
Sources of information
How should messages reach students
Contacting staff: Student Feedback and Consultation Hours
Personal Tutors
Written references
Notification of extenuating circumstances
Library facilities
Staff-Student Consultative Committee (SSCC)
Student feedback on course options (Opinio)
Programme review questionnaire (Opinio)
The Anthropology Society
Undergraduate Student Common Room
Photocopiers
Computers
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SECTION TWO: STUDENT WELFARE
Access to Learning Fund
Health and Safety on the premises
Safety management structure
Safety in the field: Fieldwork health and safety
Smoking
Illness
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SECTION THREE: ACADEMIC INFORMATION: DEGREE PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
Course units
Being complete in module
Progression regulations
Teaching contact hours
Taking courses outside the department
The degree programmes – general regulations
Criteria to transfer between Anthropology degrees
Harmonised scheme of award for undergraduate degrees
Annual prizes
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SECTION FOUR: ACADEMIC INFORMATION: GENERAL
Portico – The UCL Student Information Service
Online module registration
Enrolling for courses
Attendance
Reading weeks
UCL Global Citizenship Programme
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SECTION FIVE: TEACHING
Lectures
Course tutorials
Laboratory-based courses
The Final Year Individual Studies Project
Expedition Travel and Research Fund
Examinations
Exam registration
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Dyslexic students
Essays and other written coursework
Producing, handing in and receiving back course work; coursework feedback
Essay marks and marking; marking criteria
Factors affecting grading (including Late Submission Penalties)
Coursework extensions
Plagiarism
Self-plagiarism
Submitting your work on Moodle
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SECTION SIX: STUDY SKILLS
The organisation of essay writing
References and bibliography
Oral presentation
Writing Tutor
UCL Online Timetable
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UCL DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY
ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2015-16
FIRST TERM
Monday 28 September 2015 - Friday 18 December 2015
READING WEEKS
9 – 13 November 2015
14 - 18 December 2015
SECOND TERM
Monday 11 January 2016 – Thursday 24 March 2016
READING WEEKS
15 - 19 February 2016
21 - 24 March 2016
THIRD TERM
Monday 25 April 2016 - Friday 10 June 2016
NO READING WEEKS
** EXAMINATION PERIOD: TERM 3, DATES TBC **
Information may also be found on the Anthropology Department
website at: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropology
SECTION ONE: ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
ACADEMIC STAFF WITH ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENTAL ROLES:
HEAD of DEPARTMENT
Prof Susanne Kűchler
s.kuechler@ucl.ac.uk
DEPUTY HEAD OF DEPARTMENT with responsibility for teaching
Dr Caroline Garaway
c.garaway@ucl.ac.uk
DEPARTMENTAL TUTOR
Dr Christophe Soligo
c.soligo@ucl.ac.uk
IBSc INTERCALATED MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY TUTORS
Dr Joe Calabrese
j.calabrese@ucl.ac.uk
BSc ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY TUTOR
Dr Haidy Geismar
h.geismar@ucl.ac.uk
STUDY ABROAD/ERASMUS/SOCRATES STUDENT TUTOR
Dr Marc Brightman
Dr Ruth Mandel
Dr Galina Oustinova-Stjepanovic
m.brightman@ucl.ac.uk
r.mandel@ucl.ac.uk
g.oustinova-stjepanovic@ucl.ac.uk
EXAMINATIONS TUTOR
Dr Sahra Gibbon
s.gibbon@ucl.lac.uk
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF:
DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATOR
Martin O’Connor
martin.o’connor@ucl.ac.uk
EXAMINATIONS OFFICER
Chris Russell
christopher.russell@ucl.ac.uk
MASTERS COORDINATOR
James Emmanuel
james.emmanuel@ucl.ac.uk
UNDERGRADUATE COORDINATOR
Jolanta Skórecka
anthro-undergraduate@ucl.ac.uk
COURSEWORK ADMINISTRATOR & RECEPTION DESK
Keiko Homewood
keiko.homewood@ucl.ac.uk
DEPARTMENTAL TECHNICIAN
Chris Hagisavva
c.hagisavva@ucl.ac.uk
WRITING TUTOR
Jill Reese
jill.reese@ucl.ac.uk
LOCATION
The Department of Anthropology is based at 14 Taviton Street, just north of Gordon Square.
The Anthropology Department is next door to the School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies
(SSEES). The Department houses all members of academic staff from Biological Anthropology, Material
Culture, Medical Anthropology and Social Anthropology. No lectures are held in this building, but small group
tutorials for all subjects are held in Rooms 128, 129, 130, 131 and 132.
The Undergraduate Student Common Room is on the ground floor of the Anthropology Department where
there are tea and coffee making facilities, a microwave and a small fridge. Please note that smoking is strictly
prohibited in accordance with College policy. This includes the outside courtyard.
The Daryll Forde Seminar Room may be found on the second floor and all laboratory-based classes and
research seminars are held inside this room.
The Anthropology Departmental Office is on the ground floor. This office houses the Department’s
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Coordinators, the Academic Administrator, Departmental Administrator and
the Head of Department. The staff pigeon-holes may be found in the staff common room on the ground floor.
The Material Culture Room, in which small group tutorials may be held, is located in the basement of this
building.
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ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL PROBLEMS: WHOM TO CONTACT WHEN
The Department of Anthropology belongs to the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences and is subject to
its regulations. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/shs/
The Department is led and managed by the Head of Department. Overall responsibility for the progress and
behaviour of all undergraduate students in the Department is shared between the Deputy Head of
Department and Departmental Tutor. The Deputy Head of Department deals with overall teaching policy and
practice whilst the Departmental Tutor deals with individual student issues. Affiliate (Study Abroad) Students
should see the Affiliate Tutor and Joint Degree Students the Tutor for their particular degree.
Students suffering serious academic problems, or experiencing personal problems affecting their academic
performance, may ultimately be referred to the Departmental Tutor. However, the first point of contact for
students with problems is their Personal Tutor.
In each of terms 1 and 2, you must meet with your Personal Tutor. First year students are required to meet
with their Personal Tutor at least five times throughout the academic year. Second and third year students are
required to meet at least three times. Students will be reminded well in advance to book an appointment to
discuss their academic progress. If a student is experiencing any personal, financial or other problems, which
may affect academic performance, s/he should raise these with his/her Personal Tutor during Student
Feedback and Consultation Hours.
If problems arise unexpectedly, students should make an appointment with their Personal Tutor or Department
Tutor to seek advice and help or go and see them in Student Feedback and Consultation Hours.
(i)
If you are unable to attend a class because of illness or other reasons, you must give prior notice to the
relevant lecturer or tutor, or leave a message with one of the administrators in the Departmental Office.
(ii)
If you have straightforward academic problems with a single course, you should contact the lecturer in
charge of the course.
(iii)
If you have personal or medical problems, you should contact your Personal Tutor in the first instance,
or, if s/he is not available, your Departmental Tutor.
(iv)
If you have a query about your course or examination registration, you should contact the
Undergraduate Coordinator in the Departmental Office. If s/he cannot answer your query s/he can
put you in touch with the Departmental Tutor.
(v)
If you wish to change a course unit, you should see the Undergraduate Coordinator. Such changes
however can only take place within strict deadlines and must continue to fulfil the degree course
requirements.
(vi)
If you wish to change your degree programme, you should first discuss this with your Personal Tutor,
who in turn will refer you to the Departmental Tutor.
(vii)
If you need a reference, you should ask your Personal Tutor or where appropriate, another member of
the academic staff.
(viii)
If you feel that you have a grievance or complaint you should initially contact your Personal Tutor. If
your Personal Tutor is away, you should contact your Departmental Tutor. Please see the UCL Student
and Registry Services (SRS) website for details of grievance/complaints procedures
and for all student wellbeing matters see the UCL Current Students website.
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INTERRUPTION OF STUDIES
In cases involving a possible interruption or termination of studies, students may be referred by the
Departmental Tutor to the Faculty Tutor. Ideally, though, (and usually), problems are sorted out by students
and their Personal Tutors at Departmental level. The chain of referral for problems is:
Student ---> Personal Tutor ---> Departmental Tutor ---> Faculty Tutor
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
The main sources of information regarding courses of study in Anthropology come from the following sources
and it is the STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY to keep up to date and informed of all of these:
i)
This Handbook for Undergraduate Students taking Anthropology
ii)
UCL webpages for Current Students available at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/services
(containing information regarding degree requirements, interruption of study, failure of courses, etc.)
iii)
The Departmental Timetable available at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/timetable/
(iv)
The Optional Courses information for second and third year students available from the Departmental
Office and Anthropology Departmental website. Also available is information on courses for first year
students.
(v)
Information on Examinations (which is distributed by The College Registry to students before the
May examination period).
(vi)
UCL Email. Please note you should check your UCL email on a daily basis.
(vii)
Notice boards in the Undergraduate Student Common Room and in the entrance foyer of the
Anthropology Department.
HOW SHOULD MESSAGES REACH STUDENTS?
Students should ensure that they are immediately contactable by members of staff so that important messages
can be passed onto them. UCL email and mobile telephone are the preferred mode of contact.
Consequently, at registration, all students are required to submit their email addresses, their telephone
numbers and their term-time addresses. This applies to subsidiary students as well as degree students in the
Anthropology Department.
If you change your address, you must update the UCL Student Information Service (PORTICO) (see
subsequent section). Please also inform the Undergraduate Coordinator in the Departmental Office.
STUDENTS SHOULD CHECK THEIR UCL EMAIL ON A DAILY BASIS!
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CONTACTING STAFF: STUDENT FEEDBACK AND CONSULTATION HOURS
Individual lecturers may be contacted by email at any time, by telephone during usual working hours or in
person during their official Student Feedback and Consultation Hours. Email addresses and Office Hours
are posted outside staff offices, on Department notice boards and are also available on the Anthropology
Department web site at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropology
All staff hold 2-4 hours of Student Feedback and Consultation Hours per week (excluding vacations and
reading weeks). They guarantee to be in their offices at this time and available to students. Staff will put up
sign-up sheets on their office doors each week and students can sign up for a particular slot – or students can
just turn up for a drop in session.
Students should NOT email staff about making appointments to see them unless the student is totally unable
to come to Student Feedback and Consultation Hours because of their timetable.
Student Feedback and Consultation Hours should be used for:
(a)
Talking to a lecturer about particular difficulties / problems they are having with a course
(b)
Getting more detailed feedback / clarifications on a piece of returned work
(c)
Dissertation supervision
(d)
Personal tutor discussions outside personal tutor meetings
(e)
Specific careers advice or advice on postgraduate training
(f)
Any other issues which require one-to-one discussion
Student Feedback and Consultation Hours will not apply during vacation periods or Reading Weeks.
During these periods it is best to contact staff via their email addresses. In Student Feedback and
Consultation Hours you may drop in on any member of staff either as a personal tutee or to discuss
issues/problems with taught courses.
PERSONAL TUTORS
Every student is assigned a Personal Tutor and lists of each member of staff’s personal tutees are displayed
on the Department website. For students registered for joint degrees, the positions of Personal Tutor and the
Joint Degree Tutor are usually held by the same person. Similarly, the Affiliate and Socrates/Erasmus Tutors
act as Personal Tutors for the Affiliate and Socrates/Erasmus students and the Intercalated Medical
Anthropology Tutor for IBSc Medical Anthropology students.
The role of the Personal Tutor is to provide a general pastoral oversight of a student’s personal and academic
wellbeing and to provide advice on a wide range of issues, especially in relation to (i) course choices; (ii)
academic performance; and (iii) future careers. First year students MUST see their Personal Tutor at least
twice in Term 1 and 2 and once in Term 3. Second and Third year students must see their Personal
Tutor at least twice in Term 1 and once in Term 2. Personal Tutors will be expected to submit a record of
these meetings. These records will be kept on the student's file.
Illness and/or problematic personal circumstances likely to affect attendance and academic progress
should be reported to, and discussed with, Personal Tutors.
WRITTEN REFERENCES
Both during and after a student's stay in the Anthropology Department, Personal Tutors may be asked to write
academic and personal references on behalf of their personal tutees. Good, positive references can only be
written if students ensure that they see their Personal Tutors on a reasonably regular basis. Additionally, 3rd
year students will be required to supply their tutor with:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
A curriculum vitae (CV), detailing personal details, academic background, employment history and
special interests
Copies of transcripts or records of marks achieved so far in their time at UCL
Details of the particular job or course for which they are applying plus suggestions as to how they may
be suitable
If possible, an autobiographical profile of university career to date, pointing out and explaining, strong
and weak performances. This information will be kept on file by the Department.
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In addition to Personal Tutors the department also has a Departmental Tutor, one Joint Degree Tutor who
provides oversight for the Archaeology and Anthropology joint degree and an IBSc Medical Anthropology
Tutor. These tutors will be able to provide advice on programmes of study. They may also ask to see students
whose attendance or work is causing concern. Finally, the Departmental Tutor is responsible for monitoring the
academic progress of all students in the Department.
NOTIFICATION OF EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES
UCL has an Extenuating Circumstances Policy which is intended to ensure that students are not unfairly
disadvantaged by unexpected circumstances beyond their control which may affect performance in
assessment.
Note: The Extenuating Circumstances Policy applies only to short-term, unexpected circumstances. Longterm, chronic conditions and disabilities are covered by UCL’s Support to Study Policy and Fitness to Study
Procedure. If you have a disability or medical condition that you feel might impact on your ability to perform in
exams you can apply for special examination arrangements. See the Student Disability website for further
information. The application form is available from Student Disability Services or from the UCL Examinations
Office in Registry and Academic Services.
As a student, you are responsible for making known any circumstances which may affect your performance at
assessment in good time for them to be considered by the appropriate body. If not, you will be considered as
declaring yourself fit to sit the assessment concerned.
You must notify your own department, no matter which department teaches the module(s) concerned,
using the Extenuating Circumstances (EC) Form available on the Anthropology website in the Current
Students section, Policies, Regulations and Guidelines. You should attach appropriate supporting evidence.
All EC forms for Anthropology students should be submitted either in hard copy or electronically to:
Undergraduate Coordinator
Anthropology Department
Departmental Office, G19
Email: uganthro@ucl.ac.uk
The same form should be used to apply for all forms of mitigation for short-term unexpected circumstances,
including short extensions to coursework deadlines of up to one week, special assessment arrangements such
as extra time in examinations, or other forms of mitigation, including longer extensions, or deferral of an
examination to a later date.
LIBRARY FACILITIES
The main Anthropology Teaching Collection is housed on the second floor of the DMS Watson Science
Library that is situated directly opposite the entrance to Foster Court on Malet Place. The Issue Desk is on the
ground floor. The Anthropology Departmental Teaching Collection is located by the Issue Desk. Lecturers are
permitted to lodge on reserve for students 5 copies of any given chapter or articles, and no more than one
chapter/article per book or 10% of that book in the teaching collection. Beyond that limit, we breach copyright
regulations and are vulnerable to legal action taken out against us by publishers. Students should note that
further photocopying of these offprints is illegal. Many readings have now been digitised and can be
accessed via course Moodle* pages or digitised reading lists (* Make sure you sign up for the
Undergraduate Moodle site not Postgraduate).
The Department has a Library Committee comprised of the DMS Watson Anthropology Librarian, student
representatives and Dr Victor Buchli (Chair). Students should pass on their comments and ideas regarding
library matters directly to the Staff Library Representative or to their Staff-Student Representatives (see
subsequent section), for discussion at Staff-Student and Staff meetings.
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STAFF-STUDENT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (SSCC) AND STUDENT REPRESENTATION AT STAFF
MEETINGS
The Staff-Student Consultative Committee meets at least twice a year, once each teaching term on dates
and at times to be decided and circulated. There is a representative for each year group of the BSc
Anthropology, BSc Anthropology with year abroad and the joint degrees, for affiliate students, and for
postgraduates. Elections will be held at the start of term and details of the representatives and copies of
minutes will be posted via email.
If students have matters that they wish to raise, student representatives should be contacted and informed of
the issues well in advance of the meeting in order for the meeting agenda to be up-dated. Dates of meetings
will be published and displayed around the Department and committee representatives will be informed
individually by email. In addition there will be one AGM held in the second term to which all students of the
Department are invited.
STUDENT FEEDBACK ON COURSE OPTIONS (OPINIO)
Towards the end of each course option students are asked to complete a course evaluation. This may take
two forms: an anonymous, online course appraisal questionnaire (Opinio) or an anonymous questionnaire
distributed in the last lecture of term. These questionnaires are designed to prompt and channel feedback in
the direction of course organisers. This is a valuable mechanism for formally recording both satisfaction and
problems with courses and is the best way of generating change and improvements.
The procedure for administering and returning appraisal questionnaires is as follows:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
Students will be asked to complete an online appraisal questionnaire (Opinio) or a hard copy
questionnaire before submitting their final coursework.
Student appraisals and staff responses are handed into the Departmental Teaching Committee to be
discussed.
Problems arising and key improvements to be undertaken are reported to The Staff-Student Committee
and the Staff Meeting
Students are informed of the outcome of appraisals by Staff-Student Representatives
The Opinio reports are posted on the Anthropology website.
PROGRAMME REVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE (OPINIO)
At the end of the degree programme, students will be asked to complete an online questionnaire on the
programme as a whole. Responses to questionnaires are taken seriously and are used to develop and
improve courses and the overall programme. Constructive advice offered to lecturers and tutorial assistants at
anytime is always welcome.
THE ANTHROPOLOGY SOCIETY
The Anthropology Society is run by students and elects its committee in The Anthropology Undergraduate
Common Room during the first term. Parties are organised, outside speakers are often invited, and an
occasional newsletter is produced. Members of the Staff-Student Committee may organise these elections if a
separate body does not emerge. Watch the notice boards for details of events.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT COMMON ROOM
The undergraduate student common room is on the ground floor of the Anthropology Department. It contains
notice boards for general information on events and courses etc. There are facilities for making tea and coffee,
a microwave oven and a small fridge.
In accordance with College Policy, smoking is prohibited in the Student Common Rooms AND in the courtyard.
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PHOTOCOPIERS
Card operated photocopiers are available in the Library and the photocopying room in the South Junction.
There are also photocopying facilities available for students in the Department on the first floor.
COMPUTERS
Students should use the College system of networked computer cluster rooms at various locations in College.
The Information Systems (IS) Helpdesk is available to answer questions and help with computing problems.
The Helpdesk is located on 1st Floor, The Podium, 1 Eversholt Street, London NW1 2DN, Telephone: 020
7679 5000 (Ext: 25000 within UCL), email: helpdesk@ucl.ac.uk.
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SECTION TWO: STUDENT WELFARE
ACCESS TO LEARNING FUND (HARDSHIP FUND AND ACCESS FUNDS)
The College has an allocation of money for the provision of assistance to full-time UK students experiencing
financial difficulties. Students requiring Hardship and Access Loans should contact their Personal Tutor and/or
Departmental Tutor who will help you complete the form. Details and forms can be downloaded on the UCL
website http://www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/money/bursaries/hardship.
HEALTH AND SAFETY ON THE PREMISES
The Departmental Safety Officer is Martin O’Connor, Departmental Office, Room G21, Anthropology
Department, 14 Taviton Street, ext. 21040. Anyone suffering or observing an accident in the Department
should obtain an accident report form from the Departmental Safety Officer. The completed form should be
returned to the Departmental Safety Officer for forwarding to the College Safety Office. Serious accidents
should be reported immediately to the Safety Office, Ext. 46944.
Emergency situations In all emergencies phone 222
Fire safety and emergency evacuation
If you discover a fire, phone 222 and sound the fire alarm.
Anthropology Department, 14 Taviton Street
Evacuate the building, closing doors and windows if possible, and meet on the corner of Taviton Street outside
the Institute of Archaeology. Do not block the exits from the building and assemble away from the buildings.
All employees, students and visitors MUST leave the building immediately the fire alarm sounds. They
must proceed to the designated ‘Fire Assembly Point’, obeying any instructions given to them by
authorised UCL Fire Evacuation Marshals or others in authority, in the course of their duties.
First Aid
The Departmental First Aider is Keiko Homewood.
If first aid is needed, please contact the Departmental First Aider on 020 7679 8633.
After hours, approach UCH Accident and Emergency Department (internal dial 820 or external dial 020 3447
0011).
In the event of a major injury, phone 222, state location and telephone number and give details of accident.
Obtain assistance from nearest First Aider.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
The following staff have responsibility for Health and Safety arrangements in the Department:
Title
Name
Telephone
Head of Department
Prof Susanne Kuechler
020 7679 8644
Martin O’Connor
Keiko Homewood
020 7679 8654
020 7879 8633
Specialist Officers
Departmental Safety Officer
Departmental First Aider
The following UCL Safety Office Representative is the Primary Area Safety Officer (ASO) assigned to the
Department.
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UCL Area Safety Officer (ASO)
Brian Kavanagh
020 7679 3030
SAFETY IN THE FIELD: FIELDWORK AND HEALTH AND SAFETY
If as part of your final year individual studies project you intend to undertake fieldwork you must ensure that
you have:
(i) Made sure that you have adequate insurance cover for your journey and activities
(ii) Completed a Risk Assessment form, available from the Departmental Office and/or the Department
website: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropology/current-students
(iii) Have visited your doctor/ health centre to receive the necessary inoculations
(iv) Acquired and read a copy of the College booklet entitled ‘Fieldwork. Approved Code of Practice’
available from http://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropology/current-students
(v) Completed Ethics and Data Protection forms, instructions on which are available on the Department
website: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropology/current-students
In addition to these five tasks being a requirement for the safe and effective completion of fieldwork through
the Department at UCL, they should also be used in any future research or work you may undertake.
Risk assessment forms must be filled in for all fieldwork even where it is undertaken in London and
other parts of the UK.
SMOKING
Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the Department, including the Common Rooms and the outside
courtyard area. This is in accordance with College Policy. Please note that there are smoke alarms in the
Undergraduate Common Room that will be set off if students smoke in the room.
ILLNESS
Where students fall ill, and where this illness interferes, or threatens to interfere with their academic work, they
should visit a doctor who may give them a medical note, describing their malaise. Students should copy these
notes, keeping one for themselves, to the Undergraduate Coordinator who will inform the Departmental
Tutor. Students should also write or email the Undergraduate Coordinator explaining which courses are
affected by the illness and in what manner. Copies of all medical notes and correspondence regarding
student absences should be forwarded to the Undergraduate Coordinator in the Departmental Office.
All extensions of deadlines requests must be submitted to the Undergraduate Coordinator on the
Extenuating Circumstances (EC) Form available on our website in the Current Students section, Policies,
Regulations and Guidelines. You should attach appropriate supporting evidence. All EC forms for
Anthropology students should be submitted either in hard copy or electronically to:
Undergraduate Coordinator
Anthropology Department
Departmental Office, G19
Email: uganthro@ucl.ac.uk
Serious personal circumstances should also be reported in writing to your Personal Tutor and/or Departmental
Tutor if these circumstances are likely to interfere with academic work.
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SECTION THREE: ACADEMIC INFORMATION: DEGREE PROGRAMME
STRUCTURE
COURSE UNITS
All degree programmes in the department are based on course units. The course units provided by the
Department of Anthropology for the BSc in Anthropology are of FOUR types:
(i)
Compulsory core subjects in the First Year of which students MUST normally pass all in order to
proceed into the second year. Only one unit of first year course marks will count numerically towards
the final degree grade and classification. This is the highest mark from the theoretical course units
excluding ANTH1010 and ANTH1013. However, it is necessary to complete the other courses to
accumulate sufficient units to graduate.
(ii)
Compulsory core subjects in the Second Year, which students MUST normally pass in order to
proceed to the third year. These courses ALL count toward the final degree grade and classification.
(iii)
Optional Subjects in the Second and Third Years, which count towards the final degree grade and
classification.
(v)
Compulsory Individual Studies Project in the Third Year, which counts towards the final degree
grade and classification.
BEING ‘COMPLETE’ IN A MODULE
At UCL there is an important difference between failing a module – even if a module has been irredeemably
failed after both the first and the second attempts – and being ‘incomplete’ in the assessment for a module: it is
possible to fail a module permanently, while nevertheless ‘completing’ it. The difference can be very
significant.
In order to be ‘complete’ in a module, students must have been academically assessed in all of the examined
elements relating to the module on at least the first or the second attempt. In other words, the student must
have seriously attempted all relevant assessment at least once, instead of being absent and/or failing to
submit work. Merely attending an examination without making a credible attempt that can be academically
assessed or submitting empty pages or negligible work that cannot be academically assessed does not
complete the assessment.
Completing all modules, even if some modules may have been failed, is very important: In order to progress
from year 2 to year 3 a student must be complete in all year 1 modules; in order to progress from year 3 to
year 4 a student must be complete in all year 2 modules. If students become permanently ‘incomplete’ in a
module, they may therefore no longer be able to progress and will have to leave UCL. Final-year students who
become ‘incomplete’ in a module by failing to attempt a re-sit after already having failed to complete all
elements of assessment on the first attempt will no longer qualify for a classified honours degree and may only
qualify for an unclassified ordinary degree.
It is therefore particularly important not to miss assessment by failing to submit work or being absent from
examination; and it is imperative not to do so on a second attempt if the assessment for the module has
remained incomplete after the first attempt.
Further details and the formal regulations can be found in Chapter 4, paragraph 2.7 of UCL’s Academic
Manual.
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PROGRESSION REGULATIONS
Undergraduate Programme Progression for 12 and 16 Course Unit Degree Programmes
1. These are minimum progression requirements and some departmental/divisional, Faculty or Professional
Body requirements may require a higher threshold.
2. Progression can only take place when a full set of results is available including any referred or deferred
assessment results and marks provided by other institutions.
Three-Year Degree Programmes
3. In order to progress from Year 1, students must have passed at least 3.0 course units and be registered to
complete in Year 2 any course unit not yet complete. However, students may not progress from Year 1 or
register for incomplete course units or re-sit attempts if they have exhausted the permitted number of
opportunities. Students who have not completed 4.0 course units from Year 1 after having exhausted the
permitted number of opportunities may ask their Departmental/Divisional Tutor to obtain Faculty approval to
seek a suspension of regulations from the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Affairs) to allow a third attempt
at a time other than the next normal occasion. Students must also have satisfied the requirements of Section
2.5: UG Modern Foreign Language Requirements in order to progress to Year 2. At the discretion of the
Faculty Tutor, upon the recommendation of the relevant Board of Examiners, students may progress if they
have failed to meet the progression threshold by 0.5 course units and, therefore, have passed 2.5 course
units.
4. In order to progress from Year 2, students must be complete in the 4.0 course units from Year 1, and have
passed at least 7.0 course units, and be registered to complete in their final year any course unit not yet
complete. However, students may not progress from Year 2 or register for incomplete course units or re-sit
attempts if they have exhausted the permitted number of opportunities. Students who have not completed 4.0
course units from Year 1, or have incomplete course units from Year 2 following an interruption, may ask their
Departmental/Divisional Tutor to obtain Faculty approval to seek a suspension of regulations from the ViceProvost (Education and Student Affairs) to allow a third attempt at a time other than the next normal occasion.
Otherwise, such students will never complete the number of course units required to graduate with a classified
degree. At the discretion of the Faculty Tutor, upon the recommendation of the relevant Board of Examiners,
students may progress if they have failed to meet the progression threshold by 0.5 course units and, therefore,
have passed 6.5 course units, provided all Year 1 progression requirements have been met including passing
at least 3.0 course units from Year 1.
Four-Year Programmes: Year Abroad Programmes
5. In order to progress from Year 1, students must have passed at least 3.0 course units and be registered to
complete in Year 2 any course unit not yet complete. However, students may not progress from Year 1 or
register for incomplete course units or re-sit attempts if they have exhausted the permitted number of
opportunities. Students who have not completed 4.0 course units from Year 1 after having exhausted the
permitted number of opportunities may ask their Departmental/Divisional Tutor to obtain Faculty approval to
seek a suspension of regulations from the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Affairs) to allow a third attempt
at a time other than the next normal occasion. Students must also have satisfied the requirements of Section
2.5: UG Modern Foreign Language Requirements in order to progress to Year 2. At the discretion of the
Faculty Tutor, upon the recommendation of the relevant Board of Examiners, students may progress if they
have failed to meet the progression threshold by 0.5 course units and, therefore, have passed 2.5 course
units.
6. In order to progress from Year 2, students must be complete in the 4.0 course units from Year 1, and have
passed at least 7.0 course units, and be registered to complete in their final year any course unit not yet
complete. However, students may not progress from Year 2 or register for incomplete course units or re-sit
attempts if they have exhausted the permitted number of opportunities. Students who have not completed 4.0
course units from Year 1, or have incomplete course units from Year 2 following an interruption, may ask their
Departmental/Divisional Tutor to obtain Faculty approval to seek a suspension of regulations from the ViceProvost (Education and Student Affairs) to allow a third attempt at a time other than the next normal occasion.
7. Students should have qualified for progression prior to their year abroad.
8. If the student is eligible for referred assessment this must take place, and be passed, prior to the student
leaving for the year abroad. If the student is to re-sit the assessment this must take place during the summer
before they enter Year 4 at the time of the Late Assessments.
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9. In order to progress from Year 3, students must be complete in 12.0 course units, have passed at least 11.0
course units, and have met all Year 2 progression requirements.
10. All progression decisions at the end of year 3 are provisional. Progression from Year 3 will not be
confirmed until all marks are available and have been ratified by a Board of Examiners. Progression may
therefore be confirmed at the start of Year 4.
Failure to Meet Progression Criteria
1. Students who have not met the conditions to progress are entitled to the re-sit opportunities as set out in
Section 2.16 Reassessment in the Academic Manual.
2. When there are Extenuating Circumstances, and upon the recommendation of a Board of Examiners,
Faculty Tutors may make a case to the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Affairs) via the Director of
Student Administration, to seek suspension of the progression regulations.
3. Students who fail to meet the criteria for progressing from one year to the subsequent year have the
following options, noting that option a) is most preferable academically.
a) To register as a revision student and retake the course units failed.
b) To re-sit as an unregistered student.
c) To apply for exceptional permission to progress.
d) To leave UCL.
TEACHING CONTACT HOURS
Normally, full-unit courses in the Anthropology Department run for the two terms of the teaching year and
consist of a total of about 45 hours of lectures and small-group tutorials. Half-unit courses normally run for one
term only and consist of about 24 hours of lectures and tutorials. In addition to teaching hours however, much
of the work of any given course consists of extensive reading and preparation of coursework.
TAKING COURSES OUTSIDE OF THE DEPARTMENT
Please note that normally no more than one half unit of optional courses may be taken each year
outside of the Department (note that no courses may be taken outside of the Department in the first
year of the Anthropology BSc as it consists of a compulsory four units).
Anthropology with year abroad students may take a full unit of language in their second year if it is relevant for
their proposed destination.
Students should note that elective courses must have anthropological relevance.
Optional courses may include Anthropology courses from other universities (usually SOAS / LSE / Goldsmiths)
and Language courses. Permission will be given for most courses from Archaeology / Geography / History /
Political Science / History of Art / Genetics / Anatomy.
For courses from other departments students will have to provide an anthropological justification to the
departmental administrator / departmental tutor.
There are restrictions on the choice of elective courses as follows:




Students may not register for a level 1 course (course code 1...)
Level 1 courses are occasionally acceptable in the second year WITH PERMISSION if a student can
demonstrate that the introductory course is a prerequisite for a more advanced 3 rd year course that
they want to take.
Level 1 courses are NEVER permissible in the third year
No Fine Art courses
Third / fourth year: no beginners language courses: third / fourth years may take intermediate / advanced
language courses which develop language skills developed earlier.
If students choose to take a course from another University, the course must be anthropologically relevant and
students must note that they must be responsible for:

Checking eligibility
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
Checking timetable compatibility

Checking they will be accepted on course and registration requirements

Must be approved by the Undergraduate Coordinator and then by UCL (not always guaranteed
especially LSE)
Please note there is a risk attached to outside courses: as we cannot guarantee extenuating circumstances
will be taken into account.
Students should also be aware that exam results are often later than UCL so in the case of final year students
they may find out degree results after everyone else.
THE DEGREE PROGRAMMES - GENERAL REGULATION
In order to obtain an Honours degree, a student must complete TWELVE course units. Students take 4.0
units in each of the first, second and third years.
The BSc Degree in Anthropology (UCAS Code L602) and The BSc Degree in Anthropology with year
abroad (UCAS Code L603)
BSc Anthropology students normally graduate with TWELVE units.
In the FIRST YEAR, students take four units of compulsory courses from the three main branches of
anthropology: biological anthropology, material culture, and social anthropology. To move up to the
second year, students must normally pass ALL four units of the first-year courses. Under special
circumstances students may be allowed to proceed into the second year on the basis of three first year units
passed on condition that the other first year courses are retaken and passed during the second year.
In the SECOND YEAR students are:
(i)
Required to take and pass:
ANTH2006: Intro. to Theoretical Perspectives in Social Anthropology and Material Culture (0.5 unit)
and
ANTH2008: Being Human (0.5 unit)*
(ii)
In addition, second year students are required to choose:
(a) one HALF unit of Biological Anthropology,
(b) one HALF unit of Social Anthropology,
(c) one HALF unit of Material Culture and
(d) one HALF unit of Medical Anthropology.
*Second year students wishing to take part in the Turkana Institute Field School in Kenya are not required to
take ANTH2008 and will need to speak with the Undergraduate Coordinator before registering their modules
on Portico.
Please note that some Third Year only course options require specific courses to be taken as prerequisites in the second year. Please check!
Second year students must normally pass four units including all the required core courses before proceeding
to the third year. Under special circumstances students may proceed to the third year on the basis of a
minimum of three units including all the required courses. To proceed into the third year, students must
have passed 7 units from the 1st and 2nd year including all compulsory modules.
Please note:
All students will be assessed under the UCL Harmonised Scheme of Award. Marks from courses to the
value of one course unit from the first-year programme will be included in the final degree classification,
together with marks from all the courses taken in the second and third years. First-year courses will be given a
weighting of 1, second-year courses a weighting of 3 and final year courses a weighting of 5, from which a
median mark will be calculated.
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Honours will be awarded on the basis of the following scheme:
First
70% and above
Upper Second
60%-69%
Lower Second
50%-59%
Third
40%-49%
Fail
39% and below
CRITERIA TO TRANSFER BETWEEN ANTHROPOLOGY DEGREES
Transfers may normally be made (subject to space on the programme):
1. BSc Anth to BSc Anth with a year abroad
(a) Within first 10 days of first year commencement (before college deadline)
(b) After the first year exams and before the college deadline for transfers at the beginning of the second
year under the following conditions
a. Student has weighted average of at least 60%
And b. Student has passed every module
And c. In their first year, student has not had attendance or disciplinary problems and has not been
subject to a learning agreement.
2. BA Archaeology and Anthropology to BSc Anthropology / BSc Anthropology with a year abroad
(a) Within first 10 days of first year commencement (before college deadline) provided student meets
Anthropology entrance criteria
(b) After the first year exams and before the college deadline for transfers at the beginning of the second
year under the following conditions
a. Student has weighted average of at least 60%
And b. Student has passed every module
And c. In their first year, student has not had attendance or disciplinary problems and has
not been subject to a learning agreement
And d. Student has achieved at least 60% in each Anthropology module.
3.
BSc Anth with a year abroad to BSc Anthropology
Transfers may be made at any time up until and including after the second year exams.
4. BSc Anth to BA Archaeology and Anthropology – subject to decisions / criteria of Archaeology.
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NEW HARMONISED SCHEMES OF AWARD FOR UNDERGRADUATE COURSE UNIT DEGREES. FACULTY
OF SOCIAL & HISTORICAL SCIENCES, UCL:
SCHEME A. THREE-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMMES (BSc degree in Anthropology)
1.
PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS
Students registered for the degree are required to undertake a programme of study comprising courses to the value of 4.0 course
units in each year; the courses taken will be subject to local departmental rules and guidelines, as appropriate.
In order to proceed to the second year of the programme, all students must have passed a minimum of 3.0 course units. In order to
proceed to the third and final year of the programme, students must have completed all 4 units from Year 1 and passed a minimum
of 7.0 course units. In each year, students must have passed any courses deemed compulsory for progression, subject to local rules.
The pass mark for each course unit is 40%.
2.
AWARD OF DEGREE
To be awarded an honours degree, a student must have completed courses to the value of 12.0 course units, including 3 at advanced
level, and satisfied the examiners in courses to a minimum value of 11.0 course units, fulfilling all attendance and coursework
requirements, submitting all written work prescribed for assessment purposes and taking all parts of any examination in those
courses.
To be awarded a degree with honours in the field of study for which the student is registered, the student must have taken and passed
any course units deemed compulsory for such an award, according to local rules.
Students who fail to satisfy the examiners in 11.0 or more course units, but who have nevertheless completed at least 11.0 course
units and passed a minimum of 10.0 course units, including at least two at advanced level and two in their final year, together with
any deemed compulsory according to local rules, may be awarded an Ordinary Degree in their registered field of study. Students
who are eligible for the award of an Ordinary Degree under these requirements, but who have not satisfied the examiners in one or
more courses deemed compulsory, will be awarded an Ordinary Degree in a different field of study, to be determined by the Board
of Examiners.
3.
CLASSIFICATION OF HONOURS
The class of honours degree shall be determined by the relevant Board of Examiners on the basis of the results obtained in 9.0
course units, to be selected as follows:
a)
b)
c)
EITHER the result from the best 1.0 course unit from Year 1, subject to local rules OR the result from a 1.0 course nominated
in advance (or alternatively the two best 0.5 course units or two 0.5 course units nominated in advance);
The 4.0 course units taken in Year 2, subject to local rules;
The 4.0 course units taken in Year 3.
Classification will be based in the first instance on a consideration of the median of the marks from the 9.0 units of assessment. The
units are to be weighted 1 : 3 : 5, as follows:
d)
e)
f)
Year 1: 1
Year 2: 3
Year 3: 5
Marks for retaken or substitute course units will be included in the calculation for the mark of the year in which that course unit was
first attempted, rather than in the year it was actually taken, if that is different.
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4.
CONSIDERATION OF BORDERLINES
Candidates whose median mark falls within 1% of a class boundary may be considered for raising to the higher class. Such
consideration will be at the discretion of the Board of Examiners and will take account of one or more of the following:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
the mean of class marks across the units selected;
the distribution and preponderance of class marks across the units selected;
the results achieved in the final year of study.
Reports of academic performance may be taken into account.
Reference may be made to medical gradings agreed in an appropriate pre-meeting of a special committee in cases where there are
good reasons for supposing a candidate’s performance may have been adversely affected by illness, bereavement or similar
circumstances. The committee’s decisions will be based on available medical certificates and related documentation. Full details of
any such circumstances MUST be submitted by candidates well IN ADVANCE of the final Board of Examiners Meeting in order
for them to be considered.
5.
APPLICATION OF CLASSIFICATION SCHEME
In exceptional cases, the Board of Examiners may exercise discretion in the application of this Faculty Scheme. The general
Regulations of the College and of the University are assumed to apply in conjunction with the above Scheme, as are the local rules
and guidelines produced by the relevant Department(s).
Consideration of borderlines (College rules):
Candidates within the 1% borderline zone or those raised to within this zone through taking into account their
medical/extenuating circumstances should be subject to the following factors:
(i) an analysis of the mark distributions for candidates and consideration given to a preponderance of marks of
a class, such as half of the marks or the majority of marks, where appropriate;
(ii) a consideration as to whether there is “exit velocity” in the candidates’ performance;
(iii) particular emphasis placed on course units of higher value or those with a significant research element;
(iv) attention to those marks which have a particular significance for the overall classification.
Local Rules for BSc in Anthropology L602
Courses that must be passed for progression to the second year:
All 4 course units in Year 1 (ANTH1014, ANTH1001, ANTH1005, ANTH1013 and ANTH1010) are compulsory,
must normally be passed to progress to Year 2 of the BSc in Anthropology, and must be passed to graduate
with the BSc in Anthropology.
Courses that must be passed for progression to the third year:
Combined Social Anthropology and Material Culture half unit course ANTH2006 and for all those taking it ,
Being Human ANTH2008.
Compulsory course units that must be passed for award of named degree:
ANTH1014, ANTH1005, ANTH1001, ANTH1013, ANTH1010, ANTH2006, ANTH2008 (for all those taking it),
ANTH3048.
Additional Programme Requirements:
In addition to the compulsory courses listed above, students in their 2nd year must take an additional half
course unit in each of the subject areas of Biological Anthropology, Social Anthropology, Material Culture, and
Medical Anthropology. They may still be considered for the BSc in Anthropology if they fail a required course.
Classification of Honours:
The best 1.0 unit course from the first year (ANTH1001, ANTH1005 or ANTH1014).
All 4 units from Year 2 and all 4 units from Year 3
Borderlines:
Background: The following criteria take into account that the new harmonised scheme of awards already
accounts for exit velocity, the preponderance of grades in year 3 and, in combination with local Anthropology
rules, strongly weighs the dissertation project.
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Candidates whose rounded median mark falls within 1% of a class boundary will be considered for raising to
the higher class if:
(i) the rounded mean of class marks across the units selected is of the higher class;
or
(ii) the distribution and preponderance of class marks across the units selected is of the higher class,
but only if the preponderance extends clearly beyond year 3; i.e., there must be a preponderance of the higher
class grades in at least one year other than year 3.
The dissertation grade will not be considered in the context of raising borderline candidates.
Extenuating Circumstances will be taken into account following Faculty guidelines.
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SCHEME B. FOUR-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMMES (BSc degree in Anthropology with Year
Abroad)
1.
PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS
Students registered for the degree are required to undertake a programme of study comprising courses to the value of 4.0 course units
in each year and successfully complete assessments during the third year abroad. The courses taken will be subject to local
departmental rules and guidelines, as appropriate.
In order to proceed to the second year of the programme, all students must have passed a minimum of 3.0 course units. In order to
proceed to the third year of the programme, students must have completed all 4 units from Year 1 and passed a minimum of 7.0
course units. In order to proceed to the fourth and final year, students must be complete in 12 course units, have passed a minimum
of 11 course units and satisfied the requirements of the year abroad assessments. In each year, students must have passed any
courses deemed compulsory for progression, subject to local rules.
The pass mark for each course unit is 40%.
2.
AWARD OF DEGREE
To be awarded an honours degree, a student must have completed courses to the value of 16.0 course units, including 3 at advanced
level, satisfied the requirements of the year abroad assessments and satisfied the examiners in courses to a minimum value of 14.5
course units, fulfilling all attendance and coursework requirements, submitting all written work prescribed for assessment purposes
and taking all parts of any examination in those courses.
To be awarded a degree with honours in the field of study for which the student is registered, the student must have taken and passed
any course units deemed compulsory for such an award, according to local rules.
Students who fail to satisfy the examiners in 14.5 or more course units, but who have nevertheless completed at least 14.5 course
units and passed a minimum of 13.0 course units, including at least three at advanced level and two in their final year, together with
any deemed compulsory according to local rules, may be awarded an Ordinary Degree in their registered field of study. Students
who are eligible for the award of an Ordinary Degree under these requirements, but who have not satisfied the examiners in one or
more courses deemed compulsory, will be awarded an Ordinary Degree in a different field of study, to be determined by the Board of
Examiners.
3
CLASSIFICATION OF HONOURS
The class of honours degree shall be determined by the relevant Board of Examiners on the basis of the results obtained in 9.0 course
units, to be selected as follows:
g)
h)
i)
EITHER the result from the best 1.0 course unit from Year 1, subject to local rules OR the result from a 1.0 course nominated
in advance (or alternatively the two best 0.5 course units or two 0.5 course units nominated in advance);
The 4.0 course units taken in Year 2, subject to local rules;
The 4.0 course units taken in Year 4.
Classification will be based in the first instance on a consideration of the median of the marks from the 9.0 units of assessment. The
units are to be weighted 1 : 3 : 5, as follows:
j)
k)
l)
m)
Year 1: 1
Year 2: 3
Year 3: 0
Year 4: 5
Marks for retaken or substitute course units will be included in the calculation for the mark of the year in which that course unit was
first attempted, rather than in the year it was actually taken, if that is different.
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4.
CONSIDERATION OF BORDERLINES
Candidates whose median mark falls within 1% of a class boundary may be considered for raising to the higher class. Such
consideration will be at the discretion of the Board of Examiners and will take account of one or more of the following:
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
the mean of class marks across the units selected;
the distribution and preponderance of class marks across the units selected;
the results achieved in the final year of study.
Reports of academic performance may be taken into account.
Reference may be made to medical gradings agreed in an appropriate pre-meeting of a special committee in cases where there are
good reasons for supposing a candidate’s performance may have been adversely affected by illness, bereavement or similar
circumstances. The committee’s decisions will be based on available medical certificates and related documentation. Full details of
any such circumstances MUST be submitted by candidates well IN ADVANCE of the final Board of Examiners Meeting in order for
them to be considered.
5.
APPLICATION OF CLASSIFICATION SCHEME
In exceptional cases, the Board of Examiners may exercise discretion in the application of this Faculty Scheme. The general
Regulations of the College and of the University are assumed to apply in conjunction with the above Scheme, as are the local rules
and guidelines produced by the relevant Department(s).
Consideration of borderlines (College rules):
Candidates within the 1% borderline zone or those raised to within this zone through taking into account their
medical/extenuating circumstances should be subject to the following factors:
(i) an analysis of the mark distributions for candidates and consideration given to a preponderance of marks of
a class, such as half of the marks or the majority of marks, where appropriate;
(ii) a consideration as to whether there is “exit velocity” in the candidates’ performance;
(iii) particular emphasis placed on course units of higher value or those with a significant research element;
(iv) attention to those marks which have a particular significance for the overall classification.
Local Rules for BSc in Anthropology with Year Abroad L603
Courses that must be passed for progression to the second year:
All 4 course units in Year 1 (ANTH1014, ANTH1001, ANTH1005, ANTH1013 and ANTH1010) are compulsory,
must normally be passed to progress to Year 2 of the BSc in Anthropology with Year Abroad, and must be
passed to graduate with the BSc in Anthropology with Year Abroad.
Courses that must be passed for progression to the third year:
Combined Social Anthropology and Material Culture half unit course ANTH2006 and for those taking it, Being
Human ANTH2008.
Courses that must be passed for progression to the fourth year:
All assessments for the year abroad (recorded as ANTH3993, ANTH3994, ANTH3995 and ANTH3996).
Compulsory course units that must be passed for award of named degree:
ΑΝΤΗ1014, ΑΝΤΗ1005, ΑΝΤΗ1001, ANTH1013, ANTH1010, ΑΝΤΗ2006, ΑΝΤΗ2008 (for those taking it),
ΑΝΤΗ3048.
Additional Programme Requirements:
In addition to the compulsory courses listed above, students in their 2nd year must take an additional half
course unit in each of the subject areas of Biological Anthropology, Social Anthropology, Material Culture, and
Medical Anthropology.
They may still be considered for the BSc in Anthropology with Year Abroad if they fail a required course.
Classification of Honours:
The best 1.0 unit course from the first year (ANTH1001, ANTH1005 or ANTH1014).
All 4 units from Year 2 and all 4 units from Year 4
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Borderlines:
Background: The following criteria take into account that the new harmonised scheme of awards already
accounts for exit velocity, the preponderance of grades in year 3 and, in combination with local Anthropology
rules, strongly weighs the dissertation project.
Candidates whose rounded median mark falls within 1% of a class boundary will be considered for raising to
the higher class if:
(i) the rounded mean of class marks across the units selected is of the higher class;
or
(ii) the distribution and preponderance of class marks across the units selected is of the higher class,
but only if the preponderance extends clearly beyond year 3; i.e., there must be a preponderance of the higher
class grades in at least one year other than year 3.
The dissertation grade will not be considered in the context of raising borderline candidates.
ANNUAL PRIZES
The Department of Anthropology offers the following prizes each year:
RE Bradbury Memorial Prize
Best First Year BSc Anthropology student
£15
Rosa Morison Prize
Best Second Year BSc Anthropology student
£30
Daryll Forde Award
Best Third Year BSc Anthropology student
£100
MG Smith Prize
Best Second Year Joint Degree student
Best Third Year Joint Degree Student
£30
£30
Murray Last Prize
Best IBSc Medical Anthropology student
£30
The Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences awards a prestigious Faculty Medal to the final year student
judged to have performed best within the Faculty.
The Faculty also cites its best finishing students each year in The Dean's List. This is for students who have
performed with distinction and, whilst this citation involves no monetary reward, it appears on a student's
curriculum vitae and will be mentioned in references.
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SECTION FOUR: ACADEMIC INFORMATION: GENERAL
PORTICO: THE UCL STUDENT INFORMATION SERVICE
UCL’s Student System is known as PORTICO – The UCL Student Information Service.
Access to PORTICO is available to everyone across UCL – both staff and students alike – via the web portal
www.ucl.ac.uk/portico. You will need to log on using your UCL userid and password, which are issued to you
once you have enrolled. These are the same as the ones used for accessing UCL restricted web pages, UCL
email and Myriad. If you do not know them, you should contact the IS Helpdesk as soon as possible
(www.ucl.ac.uk/is/helpdesk).
Please remember that passwords automatically expire after 150 days, unless they have been changed.
Warnings are sent to your UCL email address during a 30 day period, prior to your password being reset.
- You can read your UCL email on the web at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/students/mail
- You can change your password on the web, at any time, at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/
Passwords cannot be issued over the phone unless you are registered for the User Authentication Service,
see https://myaccount.ucl.ac.uk/uas-register/ We strongly advise that you register for this service. If you have
not registered for the User Authentication Service you will need to visit the IS Helpdesk in person or ask them
to post a new password to your registered home or term-time address.
More information can be found at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/
As a student you can take ownership of your own personal data by logging on to PORTICO.
In PORTICO you can:




edit your own personal data - update your home and term addresses, contact numbers and other
elements of your personal details;
complete online module registration – select the modules you would like to study, in accordance with
the rules for your programme of study (subject to formal approval & sign off by the relevant teaching
department and your parent department);
view data about courses/modules - information on courses/modules available either in your home
department or elsewhere to help you choose your optional modules/electives;
view your own examination results online.
As before, any continuing student requiring official confirmation of their results, or any graduating student
requiring additional copies of their transcript, should refer to the information for obtaining an official transcript at
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/exams_and_awards/qualifications/transcripts
ONLINE MODULE REGISTRATION
This facility enables you to choose your modules in accordance with the rules for your programme of study.
Before you select your modules we recommend you check the Online Timetable at
https://cmis.adcom.ucl.ac.uk:4443/timetabling/homePage.do to find out when they are being taught and when
you have a free space in your timetable. Your mandatory modules will automatically be added to your personal
timetable and the modules you select will be added overnight.
Please note that Portico does not include timetabling information, so you should check with the
teaching department concerned to ensure that your choice of any optional or elective modules does
not clash with other classes. Many departments have specific procedures for approving module
selections/signing students up so you should ensure that you familiarise yourself with these.
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If you want to find out more about the content of individual modules you can do so by going to the department
website or by clicking on the programme code while on Portico or in Moodle which will bring up a summary of
the module.
You can access the Module Selection screen in Portico via the option ‘Select your modules/course
components’ in the Student Academic Details container.
The top of the screen shows any compulsory modules which you have to take. To complete the module
registration process you should select any optional/elective modules as listed at the bottom of the screen.
Clicking on the ‘Select’ button next to the appropriate rule, which will open the optional/elective selection
screen.
Selection Screen – optional modules
Click in the ‘Select’ box next to the appropriate module to choose the module(s) you wish to take. To view
further details about the module, click on the module name. The rule in the header above the list of modules
states how many modules/credits you should choose. You must enter the correct number and then click on the
‘Submit Selections’ button to return to the main screen.
To return to the main screen without submitting any selections, click on the ‘Cancel Selection’ button.
Selection Screen – elective modules
If the rule specifies choosing ‘any undergraduate’ or ‘any postgraduate module’ (an elective module, subject to
approval), clicking on the ‘Select’ button next to the appropriate rule on the main screen will take you to a new
screen.
As with the optional module selection screen, the rule in the header will state how many modules/credits you
should choose. You should input the appropriate module code(s) in the module box and insert an ‘A’ in the
‘Occ’ (Occurrence) field. Alternatively, you can use the ‘Search’ button to find a module. Use the ‘Submit
Selections’ button to enter the modules, or the ‘Cancel selections’ button to return to the main screen without
submitting anything.
Validation/Confirmation of selections
Once you have completed all of your selections, ensure that they comply with any ‘Overarching rule’ indicated
in the ‘Overarching’ column on the main screen and then click on the ‘Submit Selections’ button on the main
screen.
Once you have submitted your selections, you will be presented with a final screen, where you can either undo
your last change or you can confirm your selections by clicking on the ‘Confirm Selections’ button.
Note that once you have clicked on this button you cannot go back – you will then need to contact the
Undergraduate Coordinator in the departmental office in your parent department to make any
amendments to your selections. Following your confirmation, you will be presented with a screen that
confirms you have completed the module registration process, listing the modules you have selected.
All of your selections are subject to the approval of the teaching department for the module and your parent
department. You will receive an automatic email to your UCL email address if any of your selections are
rejected and you must ensure that you respond to this by contacting the Undergraduate Coordinator
the departmental office in your parent department, whom you should also contact if you wish to amend a
selection at any time. You can check on the approval status for each of your modules by clicking on the ‘View
Module Selection status’ option in your Student Academic Details container.
ENROLLING FOR COURSES
Because they contain compulsory units and other important degree requirements, all students’ course choices
are subject to their tutor’s approval. First year students take a programme of compulsory courses.
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Information about all options is updated on the Departmental website, Portico and a Course Options booklet
which is available on the Anthropology website. Requirements for each course are listed in terms of (i)
prerequisites, (ii) mode of assessment (i.e. examinations and/or term essays and/or other assignments).
Restrictions on numbers are sometimes imposed.
Only in exceptional circumstances will students be permitted to join a course more than three weeks after it
has begun. Students will not be allowed to discontinue a course after three weeks without the permission of
the Departmental Tutor and the Faculty Tutor who has the final decision on late course changes.

All changes must be reported to the Undergraduate Coordinator in the Departmental Office.

Individual course details, including Reading Lists, will normally be distributed in the first lecture. Dates of
first lectures will be posted or pre-circulated. Where there is no notice of a first lecture date, students
should assume that the course commences in the first term as early as possible in the week following
registration week. In the second term courses begin in the first week of term unless otherwise stated. Apart
from the Readings, Reading Lists state: (a) the aims of the course; (b) a list of course requirements; (c)
deadlines for course work; (d) essay questions with relevant bibliography; (e) how and where course work
should be dated and handed in; (f) the skills you are expected to derive from the course; (g) how the
course fits in with other courses offered by The Department. If any of these pieces of information are
absent or unclear, students should point this out to the lecturer.
ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to attend all lectures, seminars, classes and labs for the courses they are taking. The
only grounds for non-attendance are illness, certified by a doctor’s note, bereavement or other serious
personal circumstances (for which a written explanatory note is also required). If students cannot attend
classes, they should provide lecturers with prior notice directly or through the Departmental Office and then
provide a covering (medical) note to the Undergraduate Coordinator.
It is most important that students attend the first lecture/seminar of any course since this is when all
the important information about course organisation, tutorial management etc. will be distributed.
Lecturers may exclude students from a course where they have failed to attend the first lecture.
Class registers are taken in tutorials, seminars and lab classes and any absences noted. After a student has
been absent, unless a valid prior explanation has been provided by the student, tutors will report this absence
to the Undergraduate Coordinator who will contact the student's Personal Tutor to arrange to meet with the
student to discuss the problem.
Attendance Requirements (Academic Manual, Chapter 1, Section 4):
1. UCL’s minimum attendance requirement is 70% of teaching and learning events.
2. Students whose attendance falls below the attendance requirements are ineligible for summative
assessment.
3. Undergraduate students must meet UCL’s minimum attendance requirements during term-time
(designated teaching and examination weeks). Outside of term-time, there is no requirement for
students to be present on campus or to apply for authorised absence.
Further guidance (from Academic Manual):
1. Chapter 1, Section 7: UCL-Student Relationship Guidelines further defines the requirements of
students whilst studying at UCL.
2. Chapter 1, Section 4.4: Authorised Absence describes the procedures in place for students who are
unable to attend lectures, seminars, tutorials and other teaching and learning events due to short-term
illness or other extenuating circumstances:
 Students are expected to inform their departments within 48 hours of any absence:
o UG students should email both the course tutor and the Undergraduate Coordinator
(uganthro@ucl.ac.uk)
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
absences of up to seven days can be self-certified and approved by the Departmental or
Maters Tutor;
 absences of up to fourteen days require medical or other supporting evidence and faculty
approval;
 absences of more than 14 days require the approval of the Vice-Provost (Education).
 UCL cannot authorise absences of over 60 days for Tier 4 visa students under any
circumstances.
3. Chapter 4, Section 7: Extenuating Circumstances describes the procedures in place for students who
are unable to attend an examination or submit a piece of work for summative assessment due to illness
or other extenuating circumstances.
4. Chapter 4, Section 4.6: Interruption of Study describes the procedures in place for students who are
unable to attend for an extended period of time.
5. Chapter 1, Section 9: Learning Agreements, Barring, Suspensions and Terminations of Study
describes the procedures in place for students who fail to meet the minimum attendance requirements
or who are absent without authorisation.
READING WEEKS
The Anthropology Department holds two Reading Weeks per term, one in the middle of each term, and one at
the end of each term. Courses are not usually taught during reading weeks. Exceptional classes held during
Reading Week will be publicised. Reading weeks are not vacations, they are an integral part of terms and
should be used to complete essays, undertake reading, and prepare for forthcoming courses. You are
expected to be available in College for reading weeks.
UCL GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMME
The UCL Global Citizenship Programme offers undergraduate students the chance to put your studies in a
global context, learn new skills and see the world differently. From tackling the same global issues as UCL’s
Grand Challenges to volunteering and enterprise opportunities, there is something different on offer across all
years of your degree. The courses and activities on offer complement your academic education and help you
develop the qualities of a global citizen. Each year you will receive a record of participation on your HEAR, as
well as enjoying two weeks of specially designed activities while working alongside students from across UCL.
More information is available on the UCL Global Citizenship Programme website AT
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/global-citizenship/programme.
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SECTION FIVE: TEACHING
LECTURES
Most Anthropology courses expect students to attend two hours of lectures per week. In some cases there will
only be a single lecture and, occasionally, for seminar based courses, none. Attendance at lectures is
compulsory. Examination and essay questions may test a student's understanding of lecture content as well as
readings. Lectures are 50 minutes long; students should not be late for lectures, especially when moving from
one lecture hall to another.
COURSE TUTORIALS
In the Anthropology Department there are two kinds of tutorials. There are pastoral meetings with Personal
Tutors which tutors and students arrange themselves. And there are Course Tutorials that are an integral
teaching component of many courses.
Students are allocated to Course Tutorial Groups at the beginning of each course that runs them. These
groups meet at the same time and place on a regular basis except during Reading Weeks. Students will be in
different Course Tutorial groups for different courses.
Students are expected to prepare intensively for Course Tutorials. This will involve reading set texts, preparing
questions and points for discussion and completing any tasks set by the tutor. TUTORS AND TEACHING
ASSISTANTS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO DELIVER MINI-LECTURES IN TUTORIALS though they can be
expected to ask other students in the class to help clarify points in the lecture or the readings. The emphasis
in course tutorials is on student participation. Discussion will only emerge if EVERY student prepares in
advance points to contribute and/or questions to ask. Students should NOT leave looking for readings until the
last minute. The last minute is always the busiest!
PLEASE NOTE THAT PERSISTENT ABSENCES FROM COURSE TUTORIALS ARE REPORTED TO
STUDENT’S PERSONAL TUTORS AND STUDENTS WHO FAIL TO ATTEND TUTORIALS RISK BEING
FAILED FOR THE COURSE.
LABORATORY BASED COURSES
These are practical (lab) courses in Biological Anthropology, Social Anthropology. The practical element of
Material Culture is integrated into ANTH1001. Where students are registered for lab-based courses then
attendance is compulsory and failure to attend for two consecutive weeks will be reported to personal tutors.
Students must keep an up-to-date lab-book that is handed in regularly for marking. Failure of lab-based
courses may lead to a student having to repeat the course in the following year. Incomplete lab-books will
HAVE to be completed during the summer break.
THE FINAL YEAR INDIVIDUAL STUDIES PROJECT
All students MUST undertake a course of individual studies in their third year that is assessed by dissertation.
Students may conduct fieldwork at the end of their second year to provide data for this final year project, often
in the context of a small expedition. However, fieldwork is not compulsory and most students carry out librarybased projects.
This course is designed to provide advanced students with the knowledge and skills to identify, design, and
carry out a small research project of their own. A 1.5 unit ANTH3048 Individual Studies project has an
11,000 word limit, excluding bibliography and appendices but including notes.
EXPEDITION TRAVEL AND RESEARCH FUND
Current second year students may apply to the College Expedition Fund (ETC) and to other sources of
funding such as the Royal Geographical Society for financial assistance to fund fieldwork in preparation for the
final year Individual Studies Project. Students should regularly check notice boards for the information on the
process and deadline for applications for the ETC fund (usually in February). Please note that the College ETC
does not fund academic projects per se but it does fund the travel associated with such projects if a student
makes a good case for the likely general value of the experience. Further information can be found on the
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Expeditions and Travel website at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/expeditions/ where application forms and advice
regarding risk assessments may also be downloaded.
EXAMINATIONS
Many, but not all, courses taken in the Anthropology Department are assessed fully or partly by examination.
Exams are normally unseen. This means that they are held in Examination Halls, located outside of the
Department and are professionally invigilated. All unseen examinations in Anthropology are held during the
Summer Term, normally in May. The exact format of the unseen examination will vary from course to course.
Some examinations will be divided into sections and students will be required to answer questions from each
section. The course lecturer will discuss the form that the examination will take with the students on the
course. No books, dictionaries, papers or computers may be taken into unseen exams. Illegible or semilegible handwriting will be penalised.
The exam timetable is centrally organised and will be released in March 2016.
Students who feel that they need special arrangements for taking their exams (e.g. sitting the exams in
the Health Centre) should also see the Undergraduate Coordinator as soon as possible in the Spring
Term (Term 2) to discuss their needs.
EXAM REGISTRATION
Students should check their exam registrations on Portico carefully and inform the Undergraduate
Coordinator immediately if there are any errors or omissions. It may be difficult to sort out problems if you only
discover that you have not been properly registered when the exam timetables are issued in March/April.
Revision classes are held as appropriate at the beginning of the Summer Term. You should aim to practise the
skills that will be tested in the examination, such as timed essays, written during the revision period.
In taking the examination it is essential that you attempt the full number of questions specified as
being required.
Past examination papers are stored in the DMS Watson Library and are available on the UCL website at
http://digitool-b.lib.ucl.ac.uk:8881/R&?local_base=EXAMPAPERS
Students should note however, that where a course changes its content or tutor, past examination papers may
offer little help in preparing for the current year's exams. Course lecturers should be consulted on this matter.
DYSLEXIC STUDENTS
The Student Disability Services is currently based in:
Room G16, South Wing, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, Email: disability@ucl.ac.uk
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/disability/services/spld
Students with dyslexia (or other SpLD) should register with Student Disability Services. Make an appointment
to come and meet with a Disability Adviser – or come to one of the daily drop-in sessions (Monday-Thursday,
2pm-4pm; term-time only).
You will need to bring evidence of your diagnosis. This will need to be a full diagnostic assessment carried out
after you were 16 years old by a psychologist with a practising certificate or a specialist teacher holding an
assessment practising certificate. If you have an assessment carried out before you were 16, you will be
advised to have a top-up assessment.
The Student Disability Services also have a dyslexia and dyspraxia screening and assessment service for
students who have not been assessed before, and provide ‘top-up’ assessments for students whose previous
assessments are out of date. They also do short assessments to establish examination arrangements.
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ESSAYS AND OTHER WRITTEN COURSE WORK
In the Department of Anthropology essays and other types of written course work are of two sorts.
These are:
(i)
Formative (unassessed) essays (compulsory and graded for feedback purposes but not contributing to
the overall mark for that course)
(ii)
Summative (assessed) coursework: essays, lab-books, posters, etc. (which are compulsory AND
contribute to the overall mark for that course)
Formative work, set in any year of the degree, is a crucial part of teaching and learning. Although this work is
graded to help students evaluate their performance, marks do not count towards the final course grade and to
the overall degree class. Only the examination grade counts. However, formative work is still compulsory
and failure to complete it may lead to students being considered incomplete for the course, which may
affect progression and prevent graduation.
Most courses involve course work assessment by either (a) mixture of summative course work and
examination, or (b) summative course work alone. Where it is only a fraction of the course work, the
percentage contribution of summative course work to the overall course unit grade will be indicated on the list
of Optional Subjects, on moodle and on the particular course Reading List.

Students should note that failure to complete written summative or formative course work will
automatically lead to a mark of `INCOMPLETE.'
PRODUCING, HANDING IN AND RECEIVING BACK COURSE WORK; COURSEWORK FEEDBACK
All course work should be word-processed.
Handing in essays: electronic coursework submission (Moodle)
Once you are enrolled on a course within the Department of Anthropology, you will be asked to enrol on its
virtual version on Moodle, which can be accessed via the internet on campus or from home. The course code
and name are the same as the ones on top of your reading list. The enrolment key is the course code (e.g.
ANTH7005) Make sure you sign up for the Undergraduate Moodle site and not the Postgraduate
equivalent.
Go to http://moodle.ucl.ac.uk and use your UCL user-id and password to access the course (note that this
address contains no ‘www’). On the course page simply follow the link for electronic submission to submit your
work.
Returning of marked coursework
All 1st year essays are marked electronically. 2nd and 3rd year essays are marked either electronically or
manually and students will be informed which method will be used. Manually marked essays may be picked up
from the Anthropology Front Desk. Students will receive notification that essays are ready for pick-up.
All marked essays should be returned to students within four weeks of submission (excluding College closure
days at Christmas and Easter). For very large courses with long assignments it is occasionally impossible for
the course tutor to mark all the assignments within four weeks. In this case the course tutor should notify
students of the problem, explain the constraints and tell students when to expect the marked work. There will
be no feedback for coursework submitted two or more weeks after the deadline.
If an essay has not been returned with comments and a provisional grade after four working weeks, students
should notify the Head of Teaching.
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Minimum standards for feedback on assessed work
Non electronic assessment is being phased out and new courses/new staff will adopt the electronic marking
system, Turnitin. Other staff are still able to use paper marking but the following standards will apply to them
also.
 The following standards relate only to written work and are only a minimum/default. Staff may develop
their own standards above what is presented here.
 Each piece of written assessed work should have the following:
o
o
o
-
Rubric: The Anthropology rubric will be attached to all feedback, and will be filled in.
Students should make sure that they are familiar with how to look at the different types
of feedback on turnitin and look at them all. (in text comments, free text comments,
rubric)
In-text comments: There must be some in-text comments, which should amount to more
than just the odd tick or spelling correction. Instead they should actively comment when
good/unsupported points are made etc.
General comments: There should be at least a para of general comments at the end of
the work. These
Should explicitly relate to the marking criteria & rubric
Should contain some positives
Should contain comments on how the essay could be improved
ESSAY MARKS AND MARKING; MARKING CRITERIA
Marking criteria
Tutors apply the following guidelines to help them determine the marks of essays or examinations. These
guidelines provide a general framework for the assessment of work submitted and cannot be mechanically
applied in any particular case:
Marks
0-19
Fail (F)
20-39
Fail (E)
40-49
Pass: 3rd
(D)
50-59
Pass:2:2 (c)
60-69
Pass: 2:1
(B)
70-79
Pass :1st(A)
80-100
1st (A)
Knowledge
and
Understanding
Major gaps in
Knowledge and
Understanding of
material at this
level. Significant
inaccuracies.
Gaps in
knowledge And
only superficial.
Understanding
of the
well‐established
principles of
area(s) of study.
Some
inaccuracies.
Broad
knowledge and
understanding
of material, of
well-established
principles of
area(s) of study,
and of the way
in which those
principles have
been developed.
Good
knowledge and
understanding
of material, of
well-established
principles of
area(s) of study,
and of the way
in which those
principles have
been developed.
Very good,
detailed
understanding of
material, main
concepts/theories
at this level.
As for 7079but
exceptional
in some or
all of these
aspects
Intellectual
skills e.g.
analysis and
synthesis;
deploying
logical
argument
supported by
evidence; focus
on topic;
drawing
Unsubstantial
generalizations
made without use
of any credible
evidence>Lack of
logic, leading to
unsupportable
conclusions. Lack
of analysis and
relevance
Views/findings
largely
irrelevant,
illogical or
contradictory.
Generalisations/
statements made
with scant
evidence.
Conclusions
lack relevance
and/or validity
Some
knowledge
and
understandi
ng of
material, of
wellestablished
principles of
area(s) of
study, and
of the way
in which
those
principles
have been
developed.
Awareness
of most of
the issues
but some
gaps. Some
weaknesses
in the
structure of
argument.
Some
evidence
provided to
support
findings, but
Awareness of
main issues.
Structure of
argument
effective but
with some gaps
or weaknesses.
Some evidence
provided to
support
findings, but not
always
consistent.
Some relevant
Issues identified
and critically
analysed within
given areas. An
awareness of
different stances
and ability to
use evidence to
support
argument.
Ability to apply
concepts and
principles
outside study
Very good level
of analysis and
synthesis. An
awareness of
different stances
and ability to use
evidence
convincingly to
support argument.
Ability to apply
concepts and
principles
effectively outside
study context.
As for 7079 but
exceptional
in some or
all of these
aspects
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Research and
Enquiry e.g.
grasping,
framing and/or
creating
questions;
methods for
gathering
evidence;
ethics and
integrity;
analysis of
evidence;
communicating
findings in a
style
appropriate for
A given context
and audience
(specialist/non
--‐ specialist)
Scholarly
Practices e.g.
referencing
and citation,
appropriate
use of
academic
English and
clarity of text,
good spelling
and grammar
Little or no
evidence of the
required skills in
any of the areas
identified for
assessment at this
level.
Communication
style inappropriate
Limited
evidence of
skills in the
range identified
for assessment
at this level.
Significant
weaknesses
evident in key
areas including
style of
communication
Academic
conventions
largely ignored
and also weak in
other areas of
scholarly practice
Academic
conventions
used weakly and
significant
issues in other
aspects of
scholarly
practice
not always
consistent.
Some
relevant
conclusions
Some
evidence of
ability to
collect/
collate and
interpret
information
appropriatel
y but with
weaknesses
in some key
areas
including
the
communicat
ion of
findings
conclusions
context.
Generally sound
conclusions.
Strong well
supported
conclusions
Skills in the
ability to
collect/collate
and interpret
information are
evident, but not
complete.
Communication
style largely
appropriate with
some
weaknesses
Strong ability to
collect/collate
and interpret
information that
is also well
communicated.
Some evidence
of research
autonomy (e.g.
drawing on a
wide range of
sources
Excellent ability
to collect/collate
and interpret
information.
Student draws on
a range of sources
demonstrating a
significant degree
of research
autonomy.
Finding are very
well
communicated.
As for 7079 but
exceptional
in some or
all of these
aspects
Academic
conventions
evident and
largely
consistent,
but
weaknesses
in other
areas of
scholarly
practice
Academic
conventions and
other scholarly
practices
generally sound
Academic
conventions and
other scholarly
practices
generally very
good
Academic
conventions and
other scholarly
practices excellent
Academic
conventions
and other
scholarly
practices
excellent
FACTORS AFFECTING GRADING
1. Legibility
All essays and examination scripts must be well presented and clear. Wide margins should be left to allow
lecturers and tutors to write comments. When word processing or typing essays 1.5 or double spacing should
be used. Students should proof-read word-processed work carefully, and not rely entirely on spell-checkers they can introduce mistakes.
In examinations ‘You are warned that the Examiners attach great importance to legibility, accuracy and clearity
of expression’. College regulations also require examiners to take account of ‘a candidate's ability to express
his/her knowledge in a clear, concise and scholarly fashion’. Handwriting must therefore be clear and
standards of spelling and grammar high. Please note that you must not resort to note form, abbreviated words
or shorthand. We expect the same standards for any work you undertake in the department.
Please also refer to section on dyslexia above if you feel that this may affect you.
2. Late submission and penalties
The following rules apply to all students taking UCL Anthropology courses. Most courses require you to write
essays. As an integral part of a professional training, and to be fair to all students, it is critical that essays are
submitted on time. The following points should be noted:
(i)
ALL essays, formative or summative, MUST be submitted electronically before the specified deadline
(usually 23:59 on a given date).
1. ALL essays must meet the course deadline or suffer lateness penalties: one second late and a penalty will
be applied.
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2. The Turnitin submission system becomes slow when there is a lot of traffic so DO NOT LEAVE
SUBMISSION TO THE LAST MINUTE.
3. It is strongly recommended that students submit AT LEAST one hour before the deadline.
4. You must keep your essay submission receipt in case you have submitted to the wrong course and
as evidence if something goes wrong.
(i)
A penalty of 5 marks will be applied to coursework submitted the calendar day after the deadline
(calendar day 1).
(ii)
A penalty of 15 marks will be applied to coursework submitted on calendar day 2 after the deadline
through to calendar day 7.
(vii)
A mark of zero will be recorded for coursework submitted on calendar day 8 after the deadline through
to the end of the second week of third term. Nevertheless, the assessment will be considered to be
complete provided the coursework contains material than can be assessed.
(viii)
Coursework submitted after the end of the second week of third term will not be marked and the
assessment will be incomplete.
(ix)
Coursework submitted after solutions (for lab work) have been released will receive a mark of zero, and
may not be formally marked, even when the coursework was submitted within seven calendar days of
the deadline. Nevertheless, the assessment will be considered to be complete provided the coursework
contains material that can be assessed.
(x)
In the case of dissertations and project reports submitted more than seven calendar days after the
deadline, the mark will be recorded as zero but the assessment would be considered to be complete.
(xi)
Where there are extenuating circumstances that have been recognised by the Departmental and/or
Faculty Extenuating Circumstances Committee, these penalties will not apply until the agreed
extension period has been exceeded.
(xii)
In the case of coursework that is submitted both late and over-length, the greater of the two penalties
shall apply.
3. Lack of bibliography and references
Marks will be taken off for lack of referencing, lack of bibliography or poor cases of both. Note that
inadequate referencing can be very close to plagiarism that is an illegal offence! (See section below on
correct referencing).
ESSAY EXTENSIONS
Students should aim to get their essays in well before the deadlines, not least because of delays caused by
faults with computers, printers, photocopiers and the like. Do not expect everything to work smoothly. Note
that no extensions are given for computer problems or for reasons connected to the demands of paid
employment.
Extensions up to specific dates may be obtained only with the presentation of a medical note or a note
outlining serious personal circumstances (e.g. bereavement). Extensions should be requested from the
Undergraduate Coordinator or, if unavailable, the Exams Officer following the UCL’s Extenuating
Circumstances (EC) policy and using the official EC form. All medical and other relevant notes should be
copied, and one copy delivered to the Undergraduate Coordinator. Always keep a copy of such notes.
NB: Course tutors, teaching assistants and personal tutors CANNOT give extensions.
After submitting coursework for which an extension has been granted, please email Keiko Homewood and
the Undergraduate Coordinator informing them that you have submitted the coursework.
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PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is unacceptable. UCL has signed up to use a detection system (Turn-It-In) to scan work for
evidence of plagiarism and the Department uses this for assessed and formative coursework. This system
gives access to billions of sources worldwide, including websites and journals, as well as work previously
submitted to the Department, UCL and other universities. In the Anthropology department this software is
used on all submitted work.
Essays must be entirely your own work, though of course they will be based on what you have read, heard and
discussed. It is very important that you avoid plagiarism that is the presentation of another person's thoughts
or words as though they were your own. To cite the UCL Student Handbook 2000-2001, p. 45 ...“Any
quotations from the published or unpublished works of other persons must, therefore, be clearly identified as
such by being placed inside quotation marks, and students should identify their sources as accurately and fully
as possible. A series of short quotations from several different sources, if not clearly identified as such,
constitutes plagiarism just as much as does a single unacknowledged long quotation from a single source.
Equally, if a student summarises another person's ideas, judgements, figures, software or diagrams, a
reference to that person in the text must be made and the work referred to must be included in the
bibliography... ”
Plagiarism is a serious offence akin to cheating and will be severely dealt with. Students suspected of
plagiarising other sources of work will be summoned to explain their work before a Departmental Committee,
and, if the case is serious enough, to the Faculty Tutor. Where plagiarism is extensive and repeated, students
may be compelled to withdraw from their courses.
Please note that we recognise no distinction between ‘intentional’ and ‘unintentional’ plagiarism. To avoid
plagiarism in essays your notes must carefully record who said or wrote what (see reference and bibliography
section of this booklet). Both in notes and essays always make clear what is your work and what is the work of
others.
Note that plagiarism can be:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
the unacknowledged lifting of large continuous chunks of another author's work
the unacknowledged stringing together of disconnected sentences and phrases of another author's
work
the close paraphrasing of another author's work without referencing and acknowledgement (see
section below on referencing)
SELF-PLAGIARISM
Besides ensuring that all essays you submit are your own work, you must also avoid self-plagiarism. This
means that you must not submit the same piece of work (with or without merely stylistic variation) in order to
gain credit more than once. This rule also relates to the dissertation, which must not reproduce, even with
stylistic variation, ideas/data discussed in ANY PIECE OF assessed coursework or examination ANSWER
paper (and vice versa). The same criteria apply to self-plagiarism as to other forms of plagiarism, and it is
liable to incur a serious penalty - which may be a mark of zero for the work in question, and consequently a
severe reduction in the overall course work mark.
HOWEVER, students may draw, in a limited way, on elements/aspects of an assessed coursework essay to
answer A DIFFERENT QUESTION in the exam.
THEY MAY ALSO, IN A LIMITED WAY and WITH PERMISSION FROM THE DISSERTATION
SUPERVISOR, DRAW UPON SOME PARTS OF COURSEWORK OR EXAMINATIONS IN THEIR
DISSERTATION. Students may use any material used in an unexamined laboratory-based course in any
subsequent examination.
In the case of courses that set summative essays during the term, clear instructions are given on the
examination papers reminding students not to reproduce similar essays.
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SUBMITTING YOUR WORK ON MOODLE
* Make sure you sign up for the Undergraduate Moodle site not Postgraduate.
* All essays must be submitted electronically to Moodle.
* EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF DISSERTATIONS, the electronic copy must not exceed 10 MB (all diagrams/
images/videos should be deleted)
* Work should be submitted in .doc or .docx or .pdf form (no zip files, WORKS files or other formats)
* It must be submitted with the file named under the following system:
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR
ESSAY. FAILING TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN A DELAY IN YOUR
ESSAY BEING MARKED.

The main text of your essay should be formatted in 12 point, Times New Roman typeface
with double line spacing and a 1 inch page border so the examiner can read it easily.

You must upload your essay with the correct module code on Moodle. Some modules may
have different module codes for students in different departments (e.g. ANTH1001,
ANTH1001A) or for undergraduate and postgraduates (e.g. ANTH3017, ANTHGD11).
o You can find the module code you are registered on for this course in Portico by clicking
on ‘View confirmed module registrations’.

On the first line of your essay you must include the module code, candidate number and (if
applicable) the name of your Tutorial Assistant. Do not include your name anywhere on your
essay.
o Your candidate number is a unique code used to identify you. It consists of four letters
plus a check digit (e.g. ABCD1). You can find your candidate number for this academic
year in Portico by clicking on ‘View Candidate Number(s)’.
IMPORTANT: On the following page, you will be asked to enter your ‘Submission Title’. It is very
important that you enter your candidate number, followed by an underscore (i.e. ‘_’), followed
by your essay title. For example:
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SECTION SIX: STUDY-SKILLS
Typing, word-processing and handwriting
Students should word-process as much of their course work as possible.
Your work should be adequately spaced. Too little space is often left for the marker's comments and giving
good feedback requires much space. Use wide margins: at least 2cm (or 1 inch) margin on each side and use
1.5 or double space in between lines of text.
Word limits
Word limits should be adhered to carefully. This does not mean that work must be exactly the prescribed word
length. Tables, figures, pictures and graphs, figure legends, table headings, footnotes, appendices and the
bibliography do not contribute to word length; quotes used in the main text of the work do count. If you want to
include an appendix, you need to first seek the supervisor's/course tutor's approval.
Penalties for Over-length Coursework, including Research Projects, Dissertations and Final Reports
For submitted coursework, where a maximum word count has been specified, the following procedure will
apply:
i)
Assessed work should not exceed the prescribed word count.
ii)
For work that exceeds the specified maximum length by less than 10% the mark will be reduced by ten
percentage marks; but the penalised mark will not be reduced below the pass mark, assuming the work
merited a pass.
iii) For work that exceeds the specified maximum length by 10% or more, a mark of zero will be recorded.
iv) In the case of coursework that is submitted both late and over-length, the greater of the two penalties
shall apply.
Bibliographies are NOT included in the word count.
THE ORGANISATION OF ESSAY WRITING
Anthropological writing seeks to be both descriptive and analytical.
It must:
(a) answer questions with an argument; and
(b) marshall facts in support of an argument
All written work should be constructed around a theory or argument, which should be clearly and cogently
presented; the reader should not have to hunt for the thesis or argument. Like a theorem, a thesis is a
proposition which first has to be formulated, then demonstrated, all the while being illustrated. Formulation,
demonstration, and illustration: these are the three processes that guide valid and convincing
anthropological writing.
All essays must contain (a) an introduction, (b) a development, (c) a conclusion. The introductory
paragraph is the single most important piece of any written work. It should say what you think the question
implies, and then summarise the thesis which will be presented as an answer. The introduction must capture
and hold the reader's attention.
Good expository writing develops the thesis at the heart of any essay or dissertation. The development must
periodically refer to the basic thesis, showing how factual material and conclusions drawn from them, relate to
the thesis and help clarify and confirm it. Tangents should be avoided OR their content be placed in footnotes.
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New paragraphs should either begin on a new line or be indented. Thoughts should not be set out in a
profusion of tiny, one-sentence paragraphs!
The development of an answer/thesis may be subdivided into titled sections: in which case, the logical
relationship between successive sections should be clearly stated. In the development of the essay, use
should be made of a balanced and wide group of sources.
A conclusion is an essential component of a good piece of writing. It should restate the thesis, summarise the
argument, unravel the implications of the argument, and possibly raise new questions which further research
might answer. A student's own critical thought must be evident in the essay.
Style
Good expository prose of any kind should be both clear and interesting. It should be grammatically competent
and built on a good economy of words. The following suggestions may be helpful:









Be direct - answer the question. Do not embark upon a general survey of the subject whose point is not
absolutely obvious. Ask yourself after every sentence: 'How am I advancing my argument?' 'Is this
relevant?'
Keep prose free of jargon (i.e. undefined technical words that blind the reader with `science'). Make
certain that conceptual terms (e.g. 'ideology', 'culture') are adequately defined or contextually clarified.
Avoid over-using passive sentence construction; use the active voice where possible, as this is more
direct. ("The resolution was passed by the committee" is passive. "The committee passed the
resolution" is active and preferable).
Do not be afraid to state your opinions from a first person point of view, especially when this makes it
clear which are your own ideas or criticisms.
Your own critical thought should be evident in the essay. Why are certain ideas and solutions
preferable to others? Explain.
Avoid using colloquialisms, contractions and other forms of slang.
Do NOT simply pile one example on top of another. Develop an argument!
Never simply propose an abstract argument. Always include adequate case studies of appropriate
length! In other words, summarize just enough of a case to make your point. Do not go on and on
summarizing facts without relating them to your argument and using them to extend your argument.
Always situate you arguments and illustrations in the context of prevailing anthropological debates (i.e.
how does your focus and argument connect with existing work in the literature?).
Consult a manual of style if you are uncertain about points of grammar and style. A good text is: William Strunk
and E. B. White, The Elements of Style. The 2005 edition even has illustrations!
Technical terms
Technical terms have to be defined before they are used. This includes all theoretical concepts and notions,
which have to be defined when they are first introduced into the essay. Technical terms often mean different
things to different authors/theoreticians. Not defining technical terms runs the risk of being misunderstood or,
even worse, of not being understood at all!
Case studies
Case studies should be used in virtually all essays.
(i)
They act as evidence for what you argue
(ii)
They illustrate your abstract and conceptual points and arguments
(iii)
They enliven your essay.
Ensure that your outline comparative, ethnographic case examples in sufficient detail when these are the focus
of an analysis or contrast. At other times you may just refer to ethnographic data more briefly to illustrate a
point. Do not use up excessive space describing ethnographic data that are not fully utilized in your analysis.
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Make sure that the geographical and historical context of your case studies is adequately signposted. Don't
just talk about `the English' or `the Trobrianders', for example. By way of introduction, say WHERE `the
English' live, globally speaking, and say WHEN your description is valid for `the Trobrianders' you have
described (e.g. 1920 or the 1920's). Where appropriate, introduce indigenous terms. These should be
underlined or written in italics.
Quotations
Quotations should be used but not excessively. Students should always quote when it is important to convey
the words of an author exactly, especially in an author's definition of technical terms. On all other occasions, it
is better to paraphrase. Note that: as long as a direct quotation is less than three typed lines there is no need
to separate it from the rest of the text. Use triple-dot ellipses (...) to indicate when you have edited the quoted
text by cutting out some of it in order to save space. To use an imaginary example: "the working class upsurge
of the 1960's ... owed little, if anything to the organised labour movement" (Bloggs 1998:23). (see also section
on plagiarism).
REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anthropological writing MUST be properly referenced. Marks are deducted for this fault. Wherever writing
depends upon the use of published literary sources, students MUST cite their sources. And, to make any
sense to the reader, these references MUST refer to a standard format BIBLIOGRAPHY, placed at the end of
the essay.
In-text references
These consist of a parenthesis containing:
(i)
the name of the author
(i)
the date of the work
(iii)
the relevant page number of the work to which the essay refers.
A standard reference should look like (Sahlins 1976:123) or (Clifford 1997:35).
Alternatively, the reference may be footnoted and footnote-numbered in the text. The page number of all
quotations or specific citations must be included at the end of the quote. DO NOT INCLUDE IN THE TEXT OF
THE ESSAY THE TITLE OF ARTICLES AND CHAPTERS unless you are writing a precise history of the
works that contain them or the authors who produced them!
Audiovisual citations
Guildelines for citing audiovisual material can be accessed at
http://bufvc.ac.uk/wp-content/media/2013/03/BUFVC-AV-Citation-ONLINE.pdf
Standard bibliography
Bibliographies can vary in format. Authors must be listed in alphabetical order, and entries should include the
following elements:
(i)
the author's surname and initials
(ii)
the date of the publication
(iii)
the title of the work
(iv)
the journal or book in which the work can be found
(v)
the page numbers of the work in the book or journal
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(vi)
the publisher
(vii)
the place of publication
For most essays students can borrow the referencing system used in the professional journal JRAI (Journal of
the Royal Anthropological Society), which is available online.
It is important to be consistent in your reference format, for example:
Ward, R.G., (1961). "Internal migration in Fiji” Journal of the Polynesian Society, 70 (3), 257-71
Watters, R.F., (1969). Koro: Economic Development and Social Change in Fiji, Clarendon Press, Oxford
In the case of referring to a reading, listed in an edited collection the bibliographic entry should contain the title
and the authors of both the article and the book that contains it.
For example:
Robineau, C., (1973). "Urbanisation as a process of rural change. The Polynesian case: Tahiti and Mooera" in
R. Harre (ed.) Living in Town, South Pacific Social Science Association, University of the South Pacific, Suva
Occasionally, you will need to cite material distributed in class for which no publication information exists or
information derived from lectures. Simply be as precise and accurate as possible.
For example:
Robert Bruce, "The Powder Keg", photocopy distributed in class, 49.
Melvyn Stokes, "Politics in the New Nation", lecture, 15 October 1997.
ORAL PRESENTATION
Oral presentations in tutorials and seminars are a regular and important part of your work. Such presentations
have at least two functions. They enable you to educate other students by exchanging ideas and information,
and they give you the chance to learn communication skills that will be of great benefit to you after graduation.
Most employers are looking for graduates who are literate and articulate. There are a few very basic rules you
should try to follow when you are asked to give a presentation:
(i)
Prepare carefully what you want to say and practise giving your presentation the night before you are
due to deliver it. Ensure that it is the right length – i.e. if your tutor has asked you to speak for ten
minutes, do not prepare a presentation which lasts for five or twenty minutes.
(ii)
Speak from notes. Do not simply read out a prepared piece of prose.
(iii)
Ensure that your argument is logical and that you understand it. If you do not understand what you are
trying to say, there is no hope that your audience will.
(iv)
Begin your presentation by giving the audience a brief summary of the main points of your argument.
(v)
Speak steadily and clearly. Do not speak too quickly, because other students will be trying to take
notes. Vary the pitch of your voice and the speed of your delivery. If you do not, you will sound
monotonous and boring.
(vi)
Try to maintain some eye contact with your audience. It is the only way for you to judge whether or not
you are having an impact on your listeners.
(vi)
Bring your talk to an end by coming to a definite conclusion that refers back to the question and
answers it.
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WRITING TUTOR
The departmental Writing Tutor is available to help UCL Anthropology students, both undergraduate and
postgraduate, improve their writing skills. This includes everything from basic issues of essay organisation,
citation and how to avoid plagiarism as well as the more complicated aspects such as argumentation and
style.
Whether the student simply has not been taught the skill set required for academic writing; is looking to
improve upon what skills they already have; or has changed disciplines and is unfamiliar with the writing styles
and conventions normative to the social sciences - the Writing Tutor can help in that process.
For further information, students should check out the Writing Tutor’s Moodle site (The Anthropology Writer’s
Block) at: http://moodle.ucl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=15972
OTHER RESOURCES:
UCL has a number of resources available to help students improve their academic skills set. The following are
a few of these that may be worth taking a look at.
The UCL Language Centre offers full and part-time English for Academic Purposes and foundation courses
for international students as well as foreign language courses.
The Study Skills website links to a number of useful resources specifically geared toward new or returning
students looking to learn how to take responsibility for their own study.
The Graduate School is host to UCL's Royal Literary Fund Fellows, professional authors who offer one-toone tutorials in effective academic writing, free of charge, to all students at UCL.
UCL ONLINE TIMETABLE
(Login with your standard UCL username and password)
Brief description of the Online Timetable
The UCL Online Timetable (www.ucl.ac.uk/timetable) displays your personal timetable week by week, and lets
you find out what is being taught, when, where and by whom across UCL. Use it to select course units which
will fit in your timetable. Your personal timetable will display all the course units you are registered to attend
including lectures, seminars, tutorials, labs, film screenings, computer training and more. Check it regularly for
changes to dates, times or locations.
Four Types of Timetable
 Personal timetables for students and teaching staff with a UCL username and password.
 Department or Subject Area timetables by year of study.
 Degree programme timetables by year of study.
 Custom timetable lets you choose modules to create a timetable.
Features
 display a week, term or year
 click back and forth through weeks or select a week
 3 sizes of event display to choose from
 click on an event to open pop-up box and see all details
 link to UCL maps route finder by clicking on the room
 students can display all groups timetabled for their modules, by default only groups they are assigned to
are displayed
 students and lecturers see all their teaching for all departments in one view
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Personal timetables for students
Your personal timetable displays the modules you are registered to attend in Portico. Students are
automatically registered for compulsory modules so they immediately appear in your timetable. Use the
Department, Degree Programme or Custom timetables to find options that fit in your timetable. An important
feature of this timetabling software is that it automatically checks for and alerts you to any clashes. Once you
select your options in Portico, they will appear in your timetable the next day. If a module selection is rejected
or deleted in Portico, it will be removed from your timetable the following day.
Groups such as tutorials, labs and seminars are added to your timetable when you are assigned to a group by
the teaching department. You can choose to display all groups for your modules.
N.B. Timetables are subject to change. Any change to the timetable from any department at UCL is
reflected immediately in the Online Timetable and your personal timetable will be updated automatically.
Remember to check it regularly.
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